Samar Shams

Practice Areas

Samar supports organisations to access talent from all over the world. She offers a hassle-free process for sponsoring non-UK nationals to work in the UK.

Samar helps businesses expand to the UK. Strategic advice is a particular strength.

Samar has strong track record of helping companies ensure compliance with sponsorship and right to work requirements.

Specialisms in personal immigration work include UK family-based applications, settlement and citizenship.

Career

Samar is Managing Partner at Changes Immigration.

She has comprehensive knowledge of the Immigration Rules, rooted in over 15 years' UK immigration experience and in having being responsible for immigration knowledge for a City team for many years.

Clients benefit from Samar's obsession with efficiency. She is perpetually improving the firm's systems to best serve clients and update them on the constant changes in immigration requirements.

Samar is qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales and as an attorney in New York State.

Samar regularly speaks at national and international legal conferences and industry events.

Professional Memberships

Samar is a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners' Association (ILPA), the International Bar Association (IBA) and the General Migration Section of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

Publications

Samar regularly publishes thought leadership articles. Her articles have appeared in publications including People Management, the Employment Law Journal, the Law Society Gazette, HRZone and Care Home Management Magazine.

Personal

The innovative thinking Samar applies to her work is grounded in a life-long love of art. She paints and sews. She also invented and patented overshoes for women cyclists called BOOJEES.

Work Highlights

Examples of work include:

- Sponsorship of Skilled Workers for fast-growing AI companies

- Organising a service package to facilitate the expansion of an IT business to the UK

- Assisting care homes in sponsoring non-UK nationals to work in the UK

- HR systems reviews to ensure compliance with sponsor duties

- Project management of a contract review in 9 countries for a global energy company

Languages Spoken

Samar speaks French at a conversational level and is able to advise orally in French.

Industry Sector Expertise

BUSINESS IMMIGRATION

Sponsoring Workers

At Changes Immigration, we are experts in sponsorship matters. We can save you the time and frustration of navigating the awkward government systems and requirements. If your organisation is considering applying for a sponsor licence or you have a sponsor licence and need support, please get in touch.

Expanding to the UK

The team at Changes Immigration has many years of experience in helping overseas businesses to establish themselves in the UK. A number of immigration options are available. The best one for your business will depend on several factors. Get in touch for strategic advice.

Immigration Compliance

Our suite of compliance and training services is designed to maintain the health of your workforce and sponsor licence. We can help with developing compliant systems or preparing for a visit from the Home Office. Should the Home Office take action against your licence, we can help you to address their concerns. We have a strong track record of defending sponsor licences against Home Office action. All UK employers should be checking right to work to best prevent illegal working. We can help you implement robust checking processes.

Immigration Training

Training is a great way to gain confidence in dealing with immigration issues. With our training you will be better able to make business and recruitment plans. Our expert immigration team is pleased to offer training for HR personnel, in-house counsel, managers and staff. Our standard training offering includes in-depth training on key immigration topics. We also present shorter sessions to provide an overview, focus on an area or examine topical issues like GDPR through an immigration lens. Bespoke training on particular areas can be arranged. Get in touch to design an immigration training programme to suit your organisation’s needs.

Non-Sponsored Work Visas

You don’t necessarily need a job offer to secure permission to work in the UK. We can quickly assess your eligibility for the various options and support you through the application process.

PERSONAL IMMIGRATION

Family members

We have an excellent track record of success in family-based applications.

Settlement

We have extensive experience in assisting with settlement applications for Skilled Workers, Global Talent visa holders, family-based visa holders and more.

Citizenship

We are delighted to assist with the last stage in the UK immigration journey, British citizenship.

Expert in these Jurisdictions

UK

Education